Disabling this protein could increase our healthy lifespan by 25%

Recent research conducted by an international team of scientists has revealed that a protein, interleukin-11 (IL-11), plays a major role in aging. By inhibiting this protein in mice, they successfully extended their lifespan while improving their overall health. This discovery could pave the way for new therapies to treat age-related diseases in humans.


Researchers from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Science, Imperial College London, and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore conducted two experiments to assess the impact of IL-11 on aging. In the first, they genetically modified mice to knock out the gene responsible for producing this protein. In the second, they injected an anti-IL-11 antibody into mice aged 75 weeks, an age equivalent to 55 years in humans. The results of these studies, published in Nature, show a significant increase in the lifespan of treated mice, reaching an average of 155 weeks compared to 120 weeks for untreated mice.

Inhibiting IL-11 reduced classic signs of aging in the mice, including white fat accumulation, muscle loss, and the development of chronic diseases like cancer and fibrosis. The mice's metabolism also improved, with increased production of brown fat, known for burning calories and maintaining a stable body temperature. According to Professor Stuart Cook, who led the study, the treated mice were healthier and showed fewer signs of frailty than untreated mice.

The IL-11 protein, previously poorly understood, had long been considered anti-inflammatory. However, in 2018, Professor Cook and his team demonstrated that it is actually profibrotic and pro-inflammatory, contributing to the development of various age-related diseases. This new study reinforces the idea that IL-11 could be a key player in the aging process, and its inhibition may offer a promising path to delaying age-related diseases.

Although the results are currently limited to mice, the researchers are optimistic about applying these findings to humans. Clinical trials are underway to test anti-IL-11 treatments in the context of specific diseases, such as pulmonary fibrosis, with encouraging preliminary results. This research could thus mark a turning point in the fight against aging and associated diseases.